Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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357. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by teachers who have professionally trained abroad in trying to secure teaching posts here; the efforts under way to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1290/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority to register teachers in this State, including those who have professionally trained abroad.

A person who has completed a teacher education qualification outside the State and is seeking to register with the Teaching Council must have their qualifications assessed to determine that they are comparable and equivalent to accredited qualifications in Ireland. Where shortfalls are identified, a teacher may seek the advice of the Teaching Council as to how the shortfalls should be addressed.

The Teaching Council considers applications from teachers who qualified outside Ireland, either in another EU/EEA member state or outside the EU/EEA, who are deemed fully qualified in the member state or home country. Each application is assessed individually by the Council.

EU/ EEA qualified teachers, in accordance with EU Directive 2005/36/EC, are entitled to have their qualifications recognised in all other member states. This recognition may be granted subject to conditions, including addressing any shortfalls. The Teaching Council is the competent authority in Ireland for assessing applications from people who qualified as teachers in other EU/EEA countries.

Currently the assessment and registration process for teachers qualified outside of Ireland may take up to 12 weeks from receipt of all application documentation and depending on the time of year. However one of the actions in the Teacher Supply Action Plan, which I published in November 2018, is for the Teaching Council to develop a more streamlined process for the registration of teachers qualified in jurisdictions outside the State. A number of approaches are being considered by the Council to streamline the registration process and achieve this action.

Further information on the registration requirement for teachers wishing to teach in Ireland are available on the teaching Council website at www.teachingcouncil.ie.